ITAMARACA. 



9 



to the sea, and now the site of a cottage, is still 

 plainly to be discovered the situation of a fort, 

 and a short time ago a gun, which appeared to be 

 of six pounds calibre, was dug up. 



The distinctions attending the rank of a town 

 were removed some years past from hence to 

 Goiana, and the only mark which Conception 

 still possesses of its former importance, is the 

 obligation by which the magistrates of Goiana 

 are bound to attend the yearly festival to the 

 Virgin at the parish-church. 



Itamaraca is one of the oldest settlements of 

 the Portuguese upon the coast of Brazil. It 

 was given to Pero Lopes de Souza, who took 

 possession of it in 1531. * The Dutch made an 

 attack upon it in 1630, and although they did 

 not succeed in taking Conception, they built a 

 fort which they called Fort Orange *, and this 

 is the fort which now exists upon the island. 

 However, in 1633, the Dutch " dispatched such 

 a force as rendered resistance hopeless ; the 

 town of Conception was yielded to them, and 

 with it the whole island *." In 1637, the Dutch 

 deliberated, " whether the seat of government 

 should be removed to the island *." This did 

 not take place ; the opinion of those who pro- 

 posed the plan being overruled, but I cannot 

 avoid thinking that it possesses many advantages 



History of Brazil, vol. i. p. 36. 476. 489. 54-0. 



